Why Jared Goff, Dan Campbell are biggest keys to Detroit Lions’ success in 2023

The Detroit Lions have allocated a higher percentage of their 2022 salary cap to offensive players than all but two teams in the NFL.

They have three first-round picks on their offensive line, a refurbished receiving corps that was a focal point of the offseason and could soon have one of the league’s highest-paid tight ends.

The Lions have made a point to surround quarterback Jared Goff with the weapons he needs to have a successful second season in Detroit, which is why Goff checks in atop my pre-training camp ranking of the 10 most important people to the Lions’ success this fall.

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As quarterback, Goff’s value is obvious. He plays the most important position in football and was a central figure in the limited success the Lions had last season. Goff struggled mightily in the Lions’ 0-10-1 start, but played well down the stretch while leading the team to victories in three of his final four games.

The Lions have built a young defense largely from the ground up, and seem willing to take some lumps while they grow on that side of the ball.

On offense, they’re in Year 2 of a risky experiment, spending lavishly (both financially and in terms of resources) to support a quarterback many talent evaluators feel is a bottom-of-the-league NFL starter. If their plan works, the Lions could reap the rewards of having a veteran quarterback on a below-market deal that allows them to acquire top talent at other positions. If it fails, they could spend this season (and perhaps several more) spinning their wheels in NFL No Man’s Land, too good to acquire the kind of elite quarterback that usually guarantees success, and too mediocre to make any meaningful playoff noise.

Goff has a chance this fall to prove his naysayers wrong. He has a diverse supporting cast, a new offensive coordinator catering to his wants and undeniable job security.

He will be a key figure in whatever success the Lions achieve, or take the brunt of the blame for whatever failings they endure.

Goff was an easy choice for No. 1 on my list of most important Lions for 2022. This is not a ranking of the 10 best players, and I considered coaches, front office members (many of whom who would rank considerably higher if I did this list before free agency and the draft) and ownership.

The top three choices seemed obvious, and in the ultimate team game, plenty of others could have made the list:

1. Jared Goff

The Lions should be better defensively this fall, but they still are young and need playmakers on that side of the ball. Offensively, the pieces are there to be a formidable unit … if the quarterback play holds up.

Goff played well for long stretches of time with the Los Angeles Rams, but turnovers and a lack of aggression have held him back the past few years. This is probably his last, best chance to be a regular NFL starter, and a couple months shy of his 28th birthday he seems determined to not let the opportunity pass.

If he plays well, the Lions could push for a wild card spot in the watered-down NFC. If he struggles, the Lions will be looking for his replacement next spring.

2. Dan Campbell

Campbell has generated some buzz as a preseason Coach of the Year candidate, and there’s no doubt he had a galvanizing impact on the locker room last fall. He’s relatable as a coach, has surrounded himself with a good staff and seems to get the most out of his players.

We’re still not sure if Campbell will call offensive plays (my money is on “no”), but regardless he was an easy choice for No. 2 on this list. Campbell’s aggressive approach has a trickle-down effect on players, and his fourth-down decision- making will have a significant impact on games.

Year 1 is easy for new coaches in some ways. Change, typically, is made for a reason, and players who stick around tend to buy-in. There needs to be some payoff in Year 2, though, or Campbell could start to feel some heat.

3. Aidan Hutchinson

I don’t expect Hutchinson, the No. 2 pick of the draft, to be an immediate NFL star. But the Lions are counting on him to help transform their anemic pass rush and he has the ability and opportunity to be a difference-maker this fall.

Hutchinson should start at one defensive end spot and will have ample chance to prove himself as a pass rusher as Romeo Okwara works his way back from a torn Achilles tendon. If he approaches the play of recent top rookies like Chase Young and Micah Parsons, the Lions could cause problems with their young, aggressive defense. If his contributions are more muted, it’s difficult to see this defense taking the giant step forward it needs.

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4. DJ Chark

The Lions should have a much better and deeper receiving corps than they had last season, with Amon-Ra St. Brown entering Year 2 and Jameson Williams, eventually, joining the mix. But the Lions made Chark their top free agent signing for a reason and the fifth-year receiver must be a major factor on offense for Goff to reach his potential.

Until Williams returns, which could be around midseason, Chark will be the Lions’ primary deep threat. The Lions are counting on him to draw coverage away from St. Brown, tight end T.J. Hockenson and running back D’Andre Swift in the middle of the field, and Chark has a mixed history of being able to do that.

He caught 73 passes for 1,008 yards and made the Pro Bowl in 2019, but has battled injuries the past two seasons. After Goff, he is the biggest wild card in what could be a dangerous offense.

5. Ben Johnson

Johnson would rank higher on this list if Campbell had anointed him as play caller already. That seems to be the direction things are headed, but even if Campbell keeps play-calling duties, Johnson looms as a key figure for 2022.

The first-year coordinator left a noticeable imprint on the offense after he took over as pass game coordinator midway through last season, and the Lions are counting on that to continue this fall. Johnson is known as a creative force behind closed doors and he and Goff have a solid relationship.

If Goff thrives under Johnson’s direction, you can bet Johnson will be a head coach candidate in the near future.

6-7. Amani Oruwariye/Jeff Okudah

After starting one game together last season, the Lions’ top two cornerbacks make this list for different reasons. Oruwariye is coming off a breakout six-interception season and is the top returning playmaker on the Lions defense. Okudah is returning from a ruptured Achilles tendon and determined to prove his worth in a make-or-break year.

The Lions have lots of injury-related questions in their secondary beyond Okudah. Jerry Jacobs is starting camp on the physically unable to perform list, and free agent additions Mike Hughes and DeShon Elliott have extensive injury histories. They need someone to join Oruwariye as a reliable presence in the secondary going forward.

The No. 3 pick of the 2019 draft, Okudah has undeniable talent. If his Achilles holds up, he and Oruwariye could be a more formidable cornerback tandem than anyone realizes by midseason.

8. Taylor Decker

Frank Ragnow may be the Lions’ best offensive lineman and the team is giddy about Penei Sewell’s future, but Decker tops both on this list because of what he means to the unit as a whole.

Decker played well when healthy last season, but he missed eight games with a finger injury and left the season finale with a foot problem that lingered into the spring. If Decker is healthy, the Lions should have one of the best lines in the league this fall. If he’s not, the Lions might need to shuffle personnel (moving Sewell from right to left tackle) to account for his absence.

Given the focus on Goff and the offense, Decker’s importance cannot be understated going into the year.

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9. D’Andre Swift

The Lions want to be a play-action offensive team that takes big shots downfield, and Swift is one of the most important cogs in that plan. He has make-you-miss ability out of the backfield and is a dynamic receiving threat, but he’s missed seven games with injury the past two seasons and averaged 4.3 yards per carry over that span.

Swift has more to give, and running backs coach Duce Staley acknowledged as much this spring when he said the third-year back needed to be on the field more. The Lions likely will be smart with Swift this summer. There’s no need for him to play much in the preseason given the position he plays and how important he is on offense. But at some point they need to take the bib off and see if he can feast.

10. Aaron Glenn

If I was a betting man, I’d put money on Glenn being a head coach somewhere in the NFL next season. He is a longtime former player with a well-regarded defensive mind, someone who has his players’ respect and whose aggressive approach to play-calling plays well in the locker room.

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The Lions are undergoing a bit of a defensive change this fall, shifting to more of an even-man front, a change that came at Glenn’s suggestion after the Lions allowed the second-most points in the NFL last season.

If the tweaks don’t work, Glenn could face some blowback, though smart people realize his unit still is lacking top-end talent. He probably deserves to be higher on this list, but he comes with far fewer questions than most of those above him.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.